Deal Flow Remains Muted with Market in Flux, According to PricewaterhouseCoopers

NEW YORK, June 18/PRNewswire/ -- Commercial real estate investors reveal both frustration and disappointment at the lack of quality buying opportunities that many expected would have materialized by now, according to the second quarter 2010 findings of PricewaterhouseCoopers' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey®, released today.  The report notes that the unknown speed and strength of the economic recovery has many investors anxious, with the uncertainty surrounding the large debt volume coming due in 2011 and 2012 amplifying the angst.  

Average Overall Cap Rates Decreasing in Certain Markets

In the quarterly survey, the average overall capitalization (cap) rate, a key measure of investors' expectations of property income and value, declined in 17 of the survey's 30 markets over the past three months, an indication that investors perceive less risk in the industry now, particularly for prime properties and better markets.  The 'bottoming' of the industry continues to be recognized by investors' expectations that overall cap rates will either decline or hold steady in most markets over the next six months.  Specifically, survey participants forecast overall cap rates to hold steady in 18 of the survey's 30 markets.  Furthermore, the survey data reveals that 13 markets could see overall cap rates decline by as much as 100 basis points in this time period.

Surveyed investors cited potential declines in near-term overall cap rates in the Manhattan office market, the national warehouse market and the national apartment market (all three segments down as much as 100 basis points).  For the individual office markets in the survey, average overall cap rates remain lower for central business district (CBD) submarkets than for suburban counterparts, suggesting that investors continue to see less risk and better investment potential in the 24-hour work-live-play aspect offered by many major CBDs.

"While most investors sense that the worst is over in terms of market deterioration, supply greatly outweighs demand across all property sectors keeping overall vacancy rates high and rental rates on a downward trend," said Susan Smith, director, real estate advisory practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and editor-in-chief of the survey. "Top-tier locations are showing the most signs of life with respect to tenant interest and recovery potential.  However, inspiring leasing trends have yet to fully materialize, further contributing to this sense of market flux."

Uptick in Financing for Institutional-grade Assets

Surveyed investors comment that financing has become more readily available for the right borrower seeking quality assets in better markets.  The report finds that for second-tier markets and non-core assets, debt availability and buyer interest are very limited.  Until uniform patterns of stability occur, survey participants expect that the investment market will remain highly bifurcated with little attention paid to offerings with vacancy issues that do not deliver the highly sought after gains in value.

"There is a tremendous amount of capital targeting institutional-grade, quality assets.  In fact, survey participants cited that strong competition among well-capitalized buyers is helping to elevate sale prices and lower overall cap rates for many prime properties.  Furthermore, the low percentage of distressed trades as of late reflects investors' preferences as most buyers are steering clear of "junk" and focusing only on core assets according to survey participants," added Smith.

Key Findings and Survey Highlights

The report finds that despite encouraging economic data reports for retail sales and job growth, the retail sector continues to struggle and present challenges to property owners. According to the report, U.S. retail sales growth has been propelled mostly by auto sales while temporary hires account for a large portion of the country's recent job growth.  In the office sector, overall vacancy rates show some signs of improvement as the rate at which space is being returned to the national CBD office market has slowed dramatically over the past year.   In fact, many of the large gateway CBDs are seeing downward shifts in vacancies. Nevertheless, surveyed investors envision a slow rebound for the office sector, where a full recovery will lag behind that of the U.S. economy.

In the industrial sector, the report notes that market conditions continue to soften, but at a slower pace than in months past.  As a result, quality warehouse assets are seeing multiple bids and strong interest from perspective buyers, which could result in a rise of offerings, according to survey participants.  The report also finds that the apartment sector is continuing to lead the recovery with investment appetite for high-quality assets in first-tier markets showing an uptick in transactions in the national apartment market.  Surveyed investors find that while rental rates have stabilized, rent declines from the previous 24 months are still working through apartment rent rolls.  

Information about subscribing to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey® can be found at http://www.pwc.com/us/korpaczsurvey.  Members of the media can obtain an electronic copy of the full report by contacting Ray Yeung (212) 986-6667 or [email protected].

About the PricewaterhouseCoopers' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey®

PricewaterhouseCoopers' Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey®, now in its 23rd year of publication, is one of the industry's longest continuously produced quarterly surveys. The current report provides overviews of 30 separate markets, including ten national markets -- regional mall, power center, strip shopping center, CBD office, suburban office, flex/R&D, warehouse, apartment, net lease, and medical office buildings. Newly added to the report this quarter is a review of the Southeast region apartment market.

The report also includes a review of 18 major U.S. office markets including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Manhattan, Northern Virginia, Pacific Northwest, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Southeast Florida, Suburban Maryland, and Washington, DC.  

The second quarter 2010 report also features up-to-date commentaries concerning Technology News and Trends, Economic News, Domestic Self-Storage Market, National Development Land, special commentary on institutional-grade real estate, as well as information relating to valuation issues in the industry, such as tenant improvement allowances, market rent growth rates, forecast periods,  and structural vacancy.  

About PricewaterhouseCoopers' Asset Management Practice

PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) asset management practice is a leading global provider of audit and assurance, business advisory and tax services to all areas of the industry, including real estate funds/advisors, REITs, homebuilders as well as hospitality and leisure. PwC is one of the leading providers of integrated professional services, with an integrated approach to problem-solving.  Its international network of real estate professionals offer in-depth experience in a wide range of financial accounting and reporting issues; global tax solutions; investment fund structuring; capital market transactions; securitization issues; technological applications; systems and operations; due diligence and transaction support; and valuation management.  

About PricewaterhouseCoopers

PricewaterhouseCoopers (www.pwc.com) provides industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to build public trust and enhance value for its clients and their stakeholders. More than 163,000 people in 151 countries across our network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice.

"PricewaterhouseCoopers" refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.

SOURCE PricewaterhouseCoopers